Time to Brighten Up Your Laundry Room

Hollie Sehrt | SHNS
An organized laundry room will certainly make a dull chore into a much more pleasant experience. All it will take is a little creativity and elbow grease to create a more functional and inviting laundry room.

Have you ever leafed through one of those home furnishings catalogs and wished your laundry room looked as perfect and inviting as those featured in the pictures? Wouldn't it be dreamy to have plenty of space and storage? At the very least, wouldn't it be great to have all that you needed stored in just the right place?</p>
<p>Well, you can stop daydreaming! All it takes is a little creativity and elbow grease to create a more functional and inviting laundry room. </p>
<p>Alicia on "Beauty in Big and Small"</p>
<p>Whether you have a large laundry room, a closet for your washer/dryer, or something in-between, there are a few things that will make your space more useful. The most critical element is shelving. A flat shelf directly above (or next to) your washer and dryer will be a sanity saver. It doesn't need to be big — just big enough to place your detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets, iron and spray bottle. That way, your tools will be within reach whenever you need them. If you have the space, think about installing a long table or countertop surface, which can be used for everything from pre-treating stains to folding and sorting clothes. If you don't have room for such a counter, keep your ironing board tucked in beside your washer and dryer units and use that as your work table instead.</p>
<p>Sarah on "My Favorite Tips"</p>
<p>Spend two minutes in the detergent aisle the next time you're at the store to find that perfect scent for your clothes. There are some great detergents and fabric softeners out there today. I say pick the ones that will make you smile the next time you pull your clothes out of the dryer. It is just a little something that will make the job a bit more enjoyable. I also tell people not to skimp when it comes to selecting your laundry elements. Be it detergent, stain removers or dryer sheets, spending a bit more here to make sure your laundry comes out nicely is a worthwhile investment. Clothing isn't cheap, so making sure items stay stain free and hold their shape over time is worth spending a few extra pennies on.</p>
<p>Here are a few ideas about how to get the most out of your laundry room:</p>
<p>Make the pre-work easy: Save time and effort by having your family members presort their clothes for you. Put three separate labeled baskets in the laundry room; one for whites, one for colors and one for dry cleaning. Have each family member drop their laundry in the correct basket. Then all you have to do is pick up the basket and toss the clothes in the wash.</p>
<p>Get help putting clothes away: You can also easily get help from the family once the laundry is done by having each person put away their own clothes. Purchase a rolling basket stand and have one basket for everyone in the family. Putting folded clothes in each person's basket will save you endless miles of running up and down the stairs to put everything in its place.</p>
<p>Don't forget the extras: Finally, don't forget to purchase these small items to get your laundry room all buttoned up: Trash can: for lint, dry cleaning bags, etc...</p>
<p>Finders/keepers box: Put those coins and receipts you find in various pockets and pants here to be reclaimed later. Any coins that are not reclaimed after two weeks should go into a treat fund for you (manicures anyone?)</p>
<p>The writers are co-founders of Buttoned Up, a company dedicated to helping stressed women get organized. Send ideas and questions to yourlife@getbuttonedup.com.<